Israel kills journalist in Gaza, ignoring US-backed ceasefire agreement

A Palestinian photojournalist has been killed by an Israeli drone strike in the Gaza Strip, marking another lethal violation of the US-sponsored ceasefire agreement. Mahmoud Wadi died in central Khan Younis on Tuesday in an area not under Israeli control according to the truce terms, bringing the total number of journalists killed by Israeli fire in Gaza to 257, according to Palestinian authorities.

A Father’s Grief and Accusations of "Treachery"

Wadi’s father, Issam, described the strike as "an earthquake that struck the tent," expressing profound grief for his son who grew up in a photography studio. He accused Israel of respecting "no pledges or promises," stating, "their entire life is treachery and deceit." He labeled the killing a "criminal act" carried out by an occupation force that "will continue until destroying the whole world." Colleagues remembered Wadi as a humanitarian who devoted himself to helping Gaza's poor and afflicted.

Systematic Targeting and International Complicity

Gaza’s Government Media Office condemned what it called Israel’s "systematic attacks and assassination of Palestinian journalists," holding Tel Aviv and the US, UK, Germany, and French administrations "fully responsible." The office appealed to global press organizations to condemn the crimes, noting that international calls for Israel to stop killing journalists have been consistently ignored. Palestinians view the targeting of media workers as a deliberate strategy to obscure the realities of Israel's military campaign.

Ceasefire in Name Only: Mounting Casualties

The killing occurs despite a ceasefire that took effect on October 10 under a plan backed by US President Donald Trump. Palestinian health authorities report that at least 356 Palestinians have been killed and over 900 injured in Israeli attacks since the truce began. Hamas has announced its full commitment to the agreement and urged the US to pressure Israel to comply, while Israel has repeatedly opened fire in areas it does not control under the deal. The war has killed over 70,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, since October 2023.